Vytelle’s Andrew Donoghue and Ed Hordern.

Vytelle, a global precision livestock company accelerating genetic progress in cattle, will sponsor the first-ever Droughtmaster Queen of the Ring event. 

Following the success of previous Droughtmaster King of the Ring competition, this groundbreaking female-focused showcase will highlight superior maternal traits and genetic excellence in the Droughtmaster breed.

The Vytelle Droughtmaster Queen of the Ring will be held at CQLX, Gracemere on Monday, 15th September 2025, bringing together 15 of the best Droughtmaster females to be auctioned at the “Drinks with Droughties” function the night before the National Bull Sale. 

The event underscores Vytelle’s commitment to advancing genetic improvement throughout the global beef industry, according to Vytelle’s Andrew Donoghue.

“Vytelle is proud to partner with Droughtmaster Australia for this landmark event celebrating female genetic excellence,” said Andrew Donoghue, Regional Director Australia/New Zealand. 

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate genetic progress and help Droughtmaster producers identify their most valuable animals. Our work with Droughtmaster breeders in both IVF and feed efficiency technology has demonstrated how integrated innovations can drive significant improvements in profitability and sustainability.”

“This comprehensive approach has delivered impressive results for Droughtmaster breeders like the Donaldson family of Medway Droughtmasters, who coincidentally purchased the inaugural King of the Ring champion, Rondel Domino, for $32,500 at the 2024 Droughtmaster National Sale. By utilising Vytelle’s technology to identify bulls with superior Net Feed Intake (NFI), they’ve been able to select animals that maintain optimal growth while requiring significantly less feed – a critical profit driver in beef production. Meanwhile, on the breeding side, they’ve been able to tap into their best female genetics more optimally through hormone-free IVF.”

The Queen of the Ring competition will evaluate females based on crucial maternal traits including fertility, structural soundness, temperament, and production efficiency – all vital characteristics for sustainable and profitable beef operations. The event provides breeders with valuable benchmarking opportunities while showcasing the breed’s genetic advancement.

Simon Gleeson, CEO of Droughtmaster Australia, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership.

 “It’s ideal to have Vytelle on board as the title sponsor for our first-ever Queen of the Ring event. This showcase focusing on female excellence represents our shared commitment to comprehensive genetic improvement. Vytelle’s expertise in both in vitro fertilisation and feed efficiency technology makes them the right partner for an event centered on advancing the genetic potential of the Droughtmaster breed.”

Vytelle’s precision livestock platform combines biotechnology with data analytics to help producers identify their most genetically valuable animals. This partnership aligns with the company’s mission to provide producers with tools and insights to make more informed breeding decisions, particularly through their advanced IVF programs that have been utilised by prominent studs like Rondel Droughtmasters.

Vytelle will deliver an educational talk to Droughtmaster members, sharing expertise on genetic advancement and reproductive technologies. The partnership also includes prominent signage around the ring, social media promotion, and presentation of major prizes.

The Vytelle Droughtmaster Queen of the Ring will take place during the “Drinks with Droughties” function, creating an exciting atmosphere that is expected to attract top Droughtmaster breeders and buyers from across Australia. This female-focused competition creates a perfect complement to the National Bull Sale, which has seen bulls sell for as high as $220,000 in recent years.

“Showcasing elite female genetics is crucial for the continued advancement of the Droughtmaster breed,” added Gleeson. “The Queens selected for this event will represent the foundation of future herds, embodying the traits that make Droughtmasters Australia’s natural wonder breed – adaptability to harsh conditions, excellent maternal characteristics, and commercial productivity.” 

MEET THE QUEENS
1. LAMONT STUD DROUGHTMASTERS 

Lamont Xena (PP) and Lamont Yana (PP)

Triple the value – meet the powerhouse package from Lamont Droughtmaster Stud heading to the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15. 

Mac and Gayle Shann, Clermont, QLD are presenting a 3 in 1 package. Lamont Xena (PP), a beautiful first calf heifer who was joined as a 12-month-old heifer and calved in November 2024. Xena now has a beautiful heifer at foot, Lamont Yana (PP). Xena is approximately six months in calf. 

With her femininity, skin and style, plus the depth of genetics behind both articles, this trio is a great start up package for any keen stud breeder, or an excellent injection of new blood sourced from top studs, for any existing stud operation.

Lamont Xena is everything Lamont stands for – profit-driven, fertile, functional, and built to grow.

Old school: the best school

At Lamont Stud, it’s all about going back to basics and backing the performance of their females. Fertility, femininity, temperament, tropical skin, good udders, and the ability to raise a strong, healthy weaner ready to breed – that’s the foundation.

They aim for cows that grow out to a moderate to large frame, while still holding onto all the key traits that matter. Structure and physical soundness are also a big focus. After all, if you let things slide, negative traits can very quickly come sneaking in. 

Backed by science, built by experience 

As clients of Vytelle, Gayle and Mac have worked closely with the team to increase the number of progeny from their top-performing and proven dams. They believe the Droughtmaster female is the most versatile and efficient breeder available, whether for stud, commercial, or crossbreeding operations. With a decade of investment in leading genetics, Lamont Stud is proud to showcase the style and quality of females their program is producing. 

2. OAKMORE PARK DROUGHTMASTERS 

Oakmore Granda 640 (P)

With maternal excellence at her core, Oakmore Granda (PP) is ready to shine at the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15.

Offered by Greg and Sharon Harms, Oakmore Park Droughtmasters, Greenmount, QLD, this is a special opportunity to score some quality genetics. 

The Granda family has been giving back in a big way for over twenty years. Their history is well-known and shows just how consistent and reliable their genetics are. This standout heifer descends from sires and dams with a proven track record in fertility, growth, structure, and temperament.

“Our Granda female line has been consistently retained for stud duties, and we feel now is the time to market and promote what we consider are genetics that emulate the commitment to producing outstanding progeny,” Sharon said. “To nominate one of these remarkable females in the Queen of the Ring is not only an honor but also an opportunity to promote the pedigree in this female line.”

Great mothers, great foundation

At Oakmore Park Droughtmasters, motherhood is everything. The key to a strong, thriving herd starts with top-notch mothers. Their foundation females were picked for fertility, mothering ability, milk production, longevity, and soundness. Oakmore finds the sweet spot between performance, adaptability, and the mothering traits that keep the herd resilient and productive.

Since day one, Oakmore Park has been careful about choosing bulls and females, whether homebred or bought, based on solid, deep genetics. Over 20 years on and that’s still how they do things today. Their goal? To stick to the traits that make Droughtmasters great – good walking ability, fertility, docility, and mothering skills. Low maintenance and high performance? Big tick. 

3. MAJOR DROUGHTMASTERS

Major Georgie

Introducing Major Georgie. She’s soft, feminine, and powerful. She’s a true donor prospect… and she’s headed to the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15.

Affectionately known as ‘Georgie Girl’, she comes from some serious royalty at Major Droughtmasters, Wivenhoe Pocket, QLD. Her dam, Major Golden Girl, made her mark early as Junior Champion Heifer at the 2021 Gatton Futurity and hasn’t missed a beat since, producing three top calves in three years.

Her grand dam, the iconic Hamadra Golden Girl, was the top-priced heifer at the 2017 Droughtmaster National Female Sale, and she’s been just as impressive in the paddock – seven calves in seven years and still going strong. Her daughters are kicking goals too, selling to $15,000 at BEEF2024.

On the sire side, Major Georgie is backed by Oasis Domino, the same bull behind Major Droughtmaster’s Droughtmaster National Sale entries, Major Apprentice (PH) and Major Rookie (PP). He’s bred with real consistency, and the stud has kept plenty of his daughters in the herd for good reason. 

Strong mothers, strong future

Major Droughtmasters is focused on breeding elite females with a standout presence and a calm, easy-going temperament. The stud proudly builds on its proven Matriarch lines – cows with consistent genetics, maternal strength, and lasting appeal. The Vytelle Queen of the Ring sale is a chance to showcase the depth of their female program, and they’re offering one of their best.

Looking ahead, Major Droughtmasters are sticking to what they do best – breeding cattle with eye-catching type, real maternal strength, and the kind of presence that makes them stand out in any paddock.

4. ELJAY DROUGHTMASTERS

Eljay Her Majesty

‘Her Majesty’ is backed by a purple pedigree and already showing all the signs of a future donor with serious style and breed impact. She’ll be on offer at the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15 – and she’s one to watch.

Hailing from Eljay Droughtmasters, Rolleston, QLD, ‘Her Majesty’ is flanked by breed legends on both sides. Glenlands D Abor on top and Glenlands Maxamillion on the bottom have both created headlines and broken breed records with their progeny. 

Her dam, Beauty, well and truly lives up to her name and has produced a retained sire, two retained females and auction sale bulls averaging $20,000. ‘Her Majesty’ oozes femininity in a wedge shaped, early maturing package with plenty of capacity. A refined front end and brisket with a glowing, tropical hide are true indicators for hormonal balance and high fertility.

Maternal strength, the heart of Eljay 

Stud principal Larry Farquhar sums up Eljay’s breeding philosophy perfectly. 

“Our goal, whether stud or commercial, is to breed fertile, efficient, and functional cattle that last under tough conditions and tough selection pressures. The breeder herd is the engine room of our operation, so ensuring we maintain maternal strength is vital.”

“Maternal excellence starts with a tough selection process, focussing on femininity, hormonal balance, sound structure, fertility, and temperament. Then we keep the pressure on; we mate heifers as yearlings and expect them to raise a healthy calf every year within a strict 90-day joining window. No second chances. All while maintaining sound udders and structure.”

Eljay Droughtmasters is honoured to be part of the Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale. They believe the Droughtmaster female stands out as one of the best in the beef industry, and showcasing one of their own at the top is a true privilege.

‘Her Majesty’ perfectly captures the direction they’re headed – a stylish, reliable matriarch with a bright future.

5. K TEAM DROUGHTMASTERS

Lot 8 K Team Hannie

Double the genetics, double the impact – these twin sisters are set to make their debut at the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15.

Both heifers from K Team Droughtmasters, Biloela, QLD, bring a strong pedigree on paper, backed by proven performance through their maternal line. In the paddock, they stand out with softness, structural soundness, and a classic feminine style. They’re the kind of females you can see growing into productive, long-lasting cows. They’re fertile, functional, and built for the long haul.

K Team Gorgeous 

K Team Gorgeous is a PP heifer with a pedigree that turns heads. Her dam – also PP – is a maternal half-sister to the legendary Glenlands D Rambo, and she’s proven her worth time and again. Since joining the K Team herd, she’s delivered three heifers by three different sires, and every one has been a standout.

Gorgeous is a chip off the old block; long, deep, strong, and still beautifully refined. She’s also sired by the reliable Vale View Arizona 2 (PP), a bull known for stamping softness, tidy polled heads, and great skin type into his calves. With those bloodlines, this double PP female has plenty to offer and a big future ahead.

K Team Hannie

K Team Hannie is the first of stud’s heifers sired by the $30,000 Sommer Element – and he’s ticking all the boxes so far. Element is throwing calves that are long, soft, clean underneath, square through the hindquarter and just a dream to handle. Hannie’s dam is a picture of consistency and class, backed by proven genetics like Minlacowie Salvador on her sire’s side and Mt Grant Ando and Glenlands Fairbairn on the dam’s side. Hannie herself is a beautifully balanced heifer; sound on her feet and legs, with loads of skin, extra flank depth, good bone, and plenty of spring through the rib. She’s got all the ingredients to be a standout female performer.

Back great females, at home and in the ring

K Team Droughtmasters is proud to be part of the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale, not just to showcase its genetics, but to support a female-focused event that reflects the foundations of great herds. As a female-led operation, it’s something the team strongly believes in.

The two heifers they’re offering sum up exactly where the K Team herd is headed: balanced, fertile, functional females with the depth and durability to perform – wherever they land next.

6. WAYLANBAR J STUD 

Waylanbar J Miss Congeniality

Say hello to Miss Congeniality and Malibu, two leading ladies in the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15. These heifers aren’t just pretty faces – they’ve got the fertility, structure, and grit to back it up.

From Waylanbar J Stud, Waylanbar J Malibu and Waylanbar J Miss Congeniality were handpicked for their strong genetic lines, proven when it comes to fertility, milk, and structure. Out in the paddock they back it up with resilience, adaptability, calm temperaments, and all the physical traits Waylanbar is proud to breed for.

These two represent exactly where Waylanbar’s herd is headed – fertile, structurally sound, and tough enough to thrive in Queensland’s challenging conditions. They’re a great example of the stud’s focus on breeding resilient, productive females that suit the Aussie market.

Putting powerhouse females front and centre

Waylanbar J Stud is known for breeding Droughtmasters that are as tough as they are fertile – thriving in Queensland’s heat, handling tick pressure, and consistently raising strong, healthy calves under extensive conditions. Their breeding philosophy centres on maternal excellence, hardiness, and functionality.

The team takes a balanced approach to selection, using phenotype, performance data, and genetics to focus on key traits like fertility, moderate frame, calving ease, milk, temperament, and progeny performance.

Why Vytelle Queen of the Ring?

For Waylanbar J Stud, the Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale is the perfect platform to showcase their leading female genetics. It’s a chance to offer buyers proven breeders with the structure, adaptability, and fertility to perform – while also supporting an event that celebrates the strength and value of Waylanbar J Stud. 

7. SC DROUGHTMASTERS

SC Camilla

SC Camilla is the complete package. She combines real-world functionality with eye-catching appeal and she’s headed to the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15.

Presented by SC Droughtmasters, Canoona, QLD, SC Camilla is backed by generations of proven fertility and maternal strength – and it’s easy to see in her structure, softness, and capacity. Calm, consistent, and carrying herself with natural presence, she’s already showing all the traits expected of a top replacement female.

On paper, she’s just as impressive, balanced across fertility, growth, and a moderate maturity pattern. With an excellent Days to Calving EBV and an early conception to SC Ernie through the stud’s yearling-to-yearling program, Camilla is 6.5 months in calf (as of 21 July 2025), due to calve this September or early October, right in step with SC Droughtmasters’ joining cycle.

Camilla represents the low-input, high-output productivity that SC Droughtmasters is focused on – a female that’s ready to go to work and raise the bar.

Breeding females that work as hard as they look good

At SC Droughtmasters, it’s all about practical, productive females that can handle the heat – literally. Based in Central Queensland, the team focuses on cows that calve easily, bounce back quickly, raise a strong calf, and keep their condition doing it.

Fertility, temperament, structure, and paddock performance are non-negotiables. They back their program with Group BREEDPLAN and use EBVs to help guide decisions, but it always comes back to real results on the ground. For SC Droughtmasters, the goal is simple – breed females that consistently deliver, and raise calves that anyone would be proud to present.

Why Vytelle Queen of the Ring matters to SC Droughtmasters

Camilla represents exactly where SC Droughtmasters is heading; function first, backed by balance. She’s practical, maternal, and bred for long-term productivity. With fertility, adaptability, and profitability front of mind, the stud uses everything from BREEDPLAN to genomics and morphology testing to make smart, sustainable breeding decisions.

For SC Droughtmasters, Queen of the Ring isn’t just a sale – it’s a statement. And Camilla? She’s leading the charge. 

8. SEYMOUR DROUGHTMASTERS

Lot 7 VQOR Seymour Pearl

From the moment she hit the ground, Seymour Pearl stood out. She combines some of the best female lines in the Seymour Droughtmasters herd – and she could become the best in yours when she hits the inaugural Vytelle Queen of the Ring Droughtmaster Sale on September 15. 

Meet Pearl, the kind of female you build a herd around

Her dam, Delicia, comes from the much-admired “Fancy” line and is sired by the influential Vale View Ripper. On the sire side, Pearl is by Seymour Maurice – one of the Paterson, QLD-based stud’s top sires – who, along with his full brother Mort (out of Glenlands D Avalon), has made a big impact. Avalon herself has been a powerhouse donor cow, producing two sires, 13 retained females and four weaner bulls, including Quambatook – Seymour’s current show bull who took out Champion and Supreme Bull at just 12 months.

The females behind Pearl have calved consistently year after year, and they’re known for their beautiful udders and tidy type. Her pedigree is packed with broad ribbon winners and high-selling bulls – some over $50,000. Maurice won his class at the 2022 Droughtmaster Feature Event and Pearl backed it up by taking out Reserve Champion Junior Female at the 2025 Droughtmaster Futurity. She’s right up there as one of the top two heifers from the 2023 drop.

Ready to go to work 

Pearl is currently unjoined and ready to slot into an IVF or breeding program. Seymour Droughtmasters only join their females between 20 and 24 months, and Pearl was destined for both IVF and spring joining this year. The team thinks so highly of her that they’re offering her as a ¾ share and full possession – with one IVF aspiration to be taken at their cost and your convenience.

She’s got the length, softness, depth and wedge shape to turn heads – and the temperament to make her a pleasure to work with. Take her home, put her into your IVF program, and you might just be taking her progeny to BEEF2027.